Two boys of 14 and a 16-year-old responsible for a series of attacks on other youngsters in Airdrie and Coatbridge have been sentenced.
Weapons were involved in two assaults and a sheriff said it was a “blessing” nobody was badly hurt.
The trio, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted their guilt when they appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court.
Two of the youths were given three-year supervision orders and electronically tagged for six months.
Sentence on the third accused was deferred until October.
All three were handed five-year non-harassment orders.
The first assault happened at Airdrie train station on June 20, 2024.
All three, together with unnamed accomplices, punched and kicked a teenage boy repeatedly on the head and body.
The next day one of the 14-year-olds, again while acting with others, set upon a teenage boy in Locks Street Retail Park, Coatbridge.
The victim was punched and kicked, had his jacket pulled over his head and was hit on the head and body with a golf club.
As this was happening the other 14-year-old and the 16-year-old, along with others, attacked a second teenage lad.
He was chased and his pursuers tried to hit him with a hammer.
He was then struck repeatedly on the body with a baseball bat.
The boy fell and received more blows from the bat as well as punches and kicks to his head and body.
An allegation that he was shoved into the path of an oncoming vehicle was deleted.
Sheriff Joseph Hughes remarked: “Regarding all three charges, it’s a blessing that the injuries sustained were not more significant.
“I’m aware that two of you were 14 and one was 16 at the time.
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“The young persons’ sentencing guidelines really kick in for each of you.”
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